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Action 4 News is teaming up with the Navy Army Community Credit Union to make this year’s holiday season a little bit brighter for thousands of families in the Rio Grande Valley.

It’s all part of our 7th Annual Share Your Christmas food and toy drive benefitting the U.S. Marine Corps and the Food Bank RGV.

This year, we are asking the community to get involved and help Action 4 and Navy Army Community Credit Union pay it forward, because the need is so great.

“We’ve seen 40% increase of the amount of people seeking food assistance” said Ruby Martinez, Food Bank RGV.

Martinez said it's unheard of since in the past, the Food bank has only experienced an average of 10% increase.

"It’s critical to get as much help from the community especially during this season,' she added.

The Food Bank RGV has served more than 2 million individuals in the Rio Grande Valley in 2012, and the year is not over.

The U.S. Marine Corps told Action 4 News that they've received more than 40,000 requests for toys have been coming in from area agencies and child programs.

“Toys 4 Tots is a program that helps children have a Christmas, and not go through what I did when I was a child” said Sgt. Mark Bratton. "We need your help!  We need families, businesses, schools, churches and organizations to collect and/or donate money, non-perishable food items new unwrapped toys and donate to the Valley’s 'Share Your Christmas' drive."

If you’d like more information on how you can help, email Action 4 News Director Kimberly Wyatt at kwyatt@valleycentral.com. She can also be reached at 956-366-4420.

We will be broadcasting live on December 6th from H.E.B Plus! in Mission, H.E.B. on Parades Line in Brownsville, and from the KGBT studio in Harlingen:

H.E.B. Plus!
2409 East Expressway 83 
Mission

KGBT-TV
9201 West Expressway 83
Harlingen

HEB
2155 Paredes Line Road
Brownsville

All HEB stores across the Valley will be collecting toys and food.  You can also donate $1, $3 or $5 dollars to “Share Your Christmas” at any participating HEB store.

Join the pay it forward movement and “Share Your Christmas” by making donation on Thursday, December 6th.